Automatic cattle-guard gate.



No. 630,608. Patented Aug. 8, |899.

C. W. HILLS.

AUTOMATIC CATTLE GUARD GATE.

( Apphcation lsd May 25, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet IHIHII XT Wil csscs IIQCUOP y ci? fjllfcrujcys.

No. 630,608. Patented Aug. 8, |899.

C. W. HILLS.

AUTOMATIC CATTLE GUARD GATE.

(Application led May 25, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheetgf-Sheet 2 NI'TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W'. HILLS, OF JACKSON, WISSOUR.

AUTOMATIC CATTLE-GUARD GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,608, dated August8,1899.

Application tiled May 25,1899.y Serial No. 718,179,- (No model T0 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HILLS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Cape Girardeau and State ofMissouri, have invented a new and useful Automatic Cattle-Guard Gate, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates'tao/improvements in automatic cattle-guard gates.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofcattleguard gates and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and ef cient onecapable of being automatically operated by the wheels of a passing trainto open and close it and adapted to prevent stock from passing from onefield or inclosure into another by way of a railroad-track.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination-andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automaticcattle-guard gate constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view, the gate being shown in elevation. Fig'.3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the mannerof locking the gate'in its open position. Fig. 5 is a detail View of thelreciprocating locking-bar. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of therock-shafts. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the springs whichsupport the rock-shafts and which cushion the fall of the gate.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates a tilting gate designed to form a continuation of a fenceand mounted between a pair of posts 2 on a horizontal pivot 3 andadapted to close between a pair of latchposts 4. The gate is provided atits top, above the pivot 3, with a rearwardly-extending arm 5, having aloop 6, with which are connected operating-chains 7 or other suitableflexible devices, which extend from the gate in opposite directions. Theflexible connections 7 extend downward from the loop 6 of the arm 5 andpass under pulleys 8 and extend therefrom to guide-pulleys 9, locatedbeyond the gate, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanyingdrawings. The outer port-ions ofthe cables'or chains pass around theguide-pulleys 9 and extend'over the top of the same l toward the gateand are connected with outer arms 1() of rock-shafts 11.

The rock-shafts 11, which are journaled in suitable bearings 12, extendbeneath the rails and are provided at the inner faces of the adjacentrails with substantially L-shaped arms 13, adapted to be engaged by thewheels of a passing train and moved toward the gate, whereby the latterwill be tilted and swung rearward on its pivot to open it. When the gateis open, it is retained in such position by a reciprocating locking-bar14, which engages the loop 6.

The L-shaped arms at the inner ends of the rock-shafts normally restagainst springs 16, consisting of shanks secured to the cross-ties orother suitable supports, and arms 17, which receive the said L-shapedarms of the rockshaft and which are adapted t-o cushion the closing ofthe gate to prevent the same from being injured when it tilts or swingsdownward.

The reciprocating locking-bar 14, which is mounted in suitable guides 18and 19, is provided between its ends with an offset portion 20,extending beneath the adjacent rail and forming a shoulder 21, which isengaged by a spring 22. The spring 22 is adapted to retract the lockingrod or bar and disengage the same from the loop of the gate after atrain has passed the same, whereby the said gate will be permitted toclose. The inner or front end of the reciprocating locking bar or rod issecured to an oppositely-beveled block 23, located adjacent to one ofthe rails and adapted to be engaged by the wheels ofv a train, wherebythe lockingrod or bar is reciprocated and moved rearward to engage thearm of the gate. A train approaching the gate first engages the adjacentrock-shaft and rotates the same sufficiently to open the gate. Thewheels of the train maintain the rock-shaft in such position, andthereby prevent the gate from closinguntil the wheels engage the block23 and carry the locking bar or rod into the loop of the arm, wherebythe gate will be locked in its open position until the train has passedbeyond it. As soon as the train leaves the gate the spring 22 disengagesthe locking bar or rod from the open- IOO ing of the loop of the arm ofthe gate, and the latter is permitted to close by gravity.

It Will be seen that the gate is simple and comparatively inexpensive inconstruction, that it is positive, reliable, and automatic in itsoperation, and that it is adapted to prevent efectually stock fromescaping from one field or inclosure and entering another by Way of arailroad-track. The springs Which support the inner arms of therock-shafts in position to be engaged by the wheels of the train alsolimit the outward movement of the said arms, and thereby cushion theclosing movement of the gate. The gate is locked in its open position,and the locking mechanism is retained in engagement with the gate untila train entirely leaves the latter.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted toWithout departing from the spirit or sacriicing any ofthe advantages ofthis invention.

lVhat is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising thetilting gate designed to extend across a railway-track, operatingmechanism connected with the gate, adapted to be actuated by the Wheelsof the train and arranged to open the gate, and a reciprocating lockingdevice arranged to be operated by the Wheels of the train and adapted tohold the gate in its open position while the train is passing,substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a tilting gate designed toextend across a railway-track, rock-shafts located at opposite sides ofthe gate and having arms arranged to be engaged by the Wheels of atrain, connections between the rock-shafts and the gate, and springsarranged to support the arms of the rock-shafts and adapted to cushionthe gate in closing, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising atilting gate designed toextend across a railway-track, rock-shafts provided with inner and outerarms, the inner arm being arranged to be engaged by the Wheels of atrain, iicxible connections extending from the outer arms of therock-shafts to the gate, pulleys receiving the Iiexible connections,andsprings supporting the inner arms of the rock-shafts and adapted tocushion the gate in closing, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising a tilting gate, operatingmechanism for opening the gate, a reciprocating locking-bar adapted tohold the gate open and provided with a block or head arranged to beengaged by the wheels of a train, and means for actuating tlielocking-bar to disengage the same from the gate, substantially asdescribed.

5. A device of the class described comprising a tilting gate providedwith an arm having an opening, a reciprocating locking-bar arranged toengage the opening of the arm when the gate is open and provided with anoppositely-beveled block or head arranged to be engaged by the wheels ofa train, and a spring connected with the locking-bar and adapted todisengage the same from the arm of the gate, substantially as described.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES WV. HILLS.

W'itnesses:

' EDGAR L. Horn, FRED. GoYER'r.

